Web 2.0 How-To

For a long time unions have taken a "build it and they will come" approach to their on-line presence. However, if we want members to engage with their union on-line we need to educate and support this, in the same way we do for other union activity. That, and my observation that many people get a glazed over look when you mention RSS, has prompted me to start developing resources and modules that can be used to educate union members how to engage with their union on the web. This is my first support resource, destined for a Web 2.0 How-To page on my union's website.

Marshall Ganz on Organising

Professor Marshall Ganz is a long-time organiser and trainer who worked on Barack Obama's grassroots presidential election campaign.

As well as his acclaimed organising campaign work for Obama and his earlier work with the United Farm Workers (alongside Cesar Chavez) Ganz has held roles as a lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and a principal of Harvard’s Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations.

Ganz has put together a series of seven web modules on organising covering some of the key concepts and practical strategies. Each module has downloadable lecture notes and streaming video of the accompanying lecture. This vignette gives a taster for the series.



The lectures are insightful and, because of Ganz's experience and easy-going manner, easy to digest. The series has been put on-line as a resource for organisers, and social change educators. As well as the lecture notes and videos there are links and teaching resources – syllabi and examples of facilitation guides.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in organising or union education. However, one small grumble - the videos are in real media format and the site recommends RealPlayer. That player has been the subject of much criticism and many people don't want to install it. There is an alternative called Real Alternative which will allow you to watch the videos.

Celebrate Union Action and Success

Union members successfully make their point about at the annual Media Awards.

It's really easy to embed Youtube and other video clips into your posts. Even better record videos, upload them to youtube and embed those. Action clips from the picket, role plays in union education, vox pops or whatever else you think of.

Union Education Videos

A small collection of union education and union organising related videos - some found on-line and some recorded as part of my union education work.

Watch videos at Vodpod and more of my videos